Greenhouse and conservatory



Oct. 30,1923. 1,472,120

P. J. FOLEY GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY Filed May 28 1921 Patented Oct.30, 1923.

v PHILIP J'. FOLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY.

Application filed May 28, 1921. Serial No. 473,451.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, PHILIP J. FOLEY,

, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in' for many years been largely used forsupporting and providing drainage gutters for the glass roofs ofgreenhouses and conservatories because it is peculiarly adapted toperform both of these functions; it is readily obtainable on the market,keptin stock,

as it is, in large numbers; and has great strength and durability,combined with lightness and ease of installation and anchorage. 1

Notwithstanding the desirability of using the standard type of'channelbeams forthe purposesabove' described, such beams are, nevertheless,subject to the objection that the condensations deposited thereon fromthe glazed roof, together with accumulations on the external surface ofthe gutter, are distributed in the form of large beads detachingthemselves and falling upon persons passing under them, to theirdiscomfort and to the injury of their clothing, and more especially thatthese drippings are injurious to the flowers, fruits and vegetables intheir path, planted in a greenhouse, if for no other reason than thatthey pro duce spots and defects therein which it is necessary anddesirable to avoid. if possible.

The object of my invention is to utilize all of advantages attributableto the use of the standard type of channel beam as a continued supportand gutter for the roofs of greenhouses and conservatories, and, inaddition thereto, provide a simple and effective means by which theaccumulation of condensations on a channel beam are collected anddischarged thence directly outside of the building or to the groundwithin, at a 1 place where no harm is done to growing crops or persons.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is a channel beamforming the support and gutter for the roof of a greenhouse andconservatory, the under-surface of the web of which is so formed thatthe globules resulting from the accumulation of condensations are causedto adhere thereto by capillary attraction, until they are conducted welltowards. the longitudinal side edges of the beam before they aredischarged therefrom by gravity, and at such a point that they arecollected and may be discharged from the building in which such beamsarelocated.

With these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certainfeatures of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts by which the said objects are attained, all as hereinafter fullydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Said drawing illustrates in cross-section a channel bottom in which myinvention finds embodiment.

Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the drawing.

For carrying out my invention, a channel beam, provided with the usualopposing flanges L and 2, has its under-surfaces inclined upwardly, asindicated respectively at 4 and 5, the apex of which is indicated at 6,which inclines extend to and terminate at the side edges of the beam,which is bottom of the web of a standard channel beam.

The angle of inclination of the bottom surface of the beam is such that,as indicated in the drawing, the water globules 4 formed from theaccumulation of condensations thereon and during their formation will beforced to travel in an outward direction across said surface, while inthe meantime adhering thereto until they have arrived well towards theextreme edges of the beam and at a point thereon immediately overreceiving troughs 77, before being released by gravity from such surfacefor their discharge therein, which troughs are located longitudinally ofthe beam and are not only adapted to collect, but to discharge theircontents outside of the structure in which they are located, or within,as hereinbeforestated.

The troughs 7-7 may be supported by any suitable means therefor and solocated that the accumulated condens'ati'ons discharging from, andleakage through the roof of the structure will be conducted directly.down the outer sides of the flanges 1 and '2, together with thecondensations initially accumulating on and from the .-chilling effecton the surface of such flanges.

7 downwardly next to, the side thereof and out of the path of the plantsbelow the roofsupporting the glazingto t e flanges The new type ofchannelbeam herein described is notonly adapted to'provide a support andgutter when located between the edges of adjacent roofs,the glazing ofwhich projects over the edges of theflan'ges of the beam and ismaintainedjag'ains't downward movement by the usual -Z -shaped clips orbars 9-4), but for the eaves of a single house in the absence of agutter for discharging the globular condensations' same. 7 y p j Fordetachably locking the ed es of the of the channelbar, and following mypractice for a numberof years, the bracket 10, at the right-hand of thedrawing may also be employed, which bracket, however, forms no part ofmy present invention.

By the use of my invention, a meansis provided 'not only forefl'ectivelypreventing drops of water falling from the channel bar,

but also those which are due to the accumulation of conde'nsations onthe under-surfaces of the glass roofing for-greenhouses andconservatories from striking and thereby causing spots and defects: inthe growing flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc., planted therein belowtheir channel beams.

In conclusion, it is to be observed that my 'inventionnot onlysuccessfully prevents the plants from being injured by the globules ofwater-droppin from the channel beam,

due to their accumulation thereon, and on the i'o'ofs for which it formsa support and gutter, but, as compared with the standard type of channelbeam, increases the strength tem-111ml bars, resisting their bending dueto the weight of the roof supported by them. Having described myinvention, what I claim; and desire tofse'cure j by "Letters Patent'is:m' j f 1. A channelfbeam the outer'surface of the web of which isinclined downwardly from app-roiriinately its center of length to pgreenhouses and conservatories, of a channel beam supporting andproviding a. gutter, therefor, the under-surface of which inclinesdownwardly from approximatelythe, center of length of said beam to theside edges thereof, and troughs located in a; plane immediately belowsaid side edges. a In. witnesswhereof, I have hereunto set myhand this25thdayof May, 1921. v 7

PHILIP J. FOLEY,

